Yankees bristle with hope as rookies, veterans compete to make ‘crazy finishes’
- September 6, 2023
- 7:44 am
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Follow UsThe infusion of young talents to the New York Yankees roster is paying dividends. While their rookies have brought energy and muscle to the team, their presence has also revitalized the slumping veterans. There is a seeming to be a competition between the two groups ultimately benefitting the Yankees, who look potent to avoid losing the season.
With their fourth consecutive win and seventh in their last eight games, the Yankees (69-69) returned to a .500 record. They now find themselves seven games behind an AL wild-card spot. Manager Aaron Boone remarked that the game was replete with wild tales and unexpected conclusions while emphasizing the element of unpredictability, hinting at the possibility of keeping alive their 31-year-old winning streak.
“This game’s filled with crazy stories and crazy finishes,” a happy manager told. “And you never know.”
Yankees veterans took over the show meant for youngsters
The Yankees may have given the appearance of surrendering the season by promoting young talent and parting with veterans like Harrison Bader and Josh Donaldson. However, the team’s locker room, fueled by both the veteran presence and the promise of exciting prospects, hasn’t conceded defeat.
On Tuesday, all eyes were on Jasson Dominguez, who had never set foot in Yankee Stadium, a place he had long imagined and dreamed about and fans were hoping to see his Martian traits.
In his debut in the Bronx, the highly-anticipated top prospect observed as the team’s seasoned veterans led the charge. In a game meant to showcase the young talent, it was the experienced players who shined in a 5-1 Yankees triumph against the Tigers, witnessed by a crowd of 31,553. This victory added to the Yankees’ unexpected surge in September.
The presence of Dominguez, Everson Pereira, and Oswald Peraza in the lineup, along with Austin Wells (who had a day off), has brought energy to the clubhouse. However, it was the combination of Gerrit Cole, Stanton, DJ LeMahieu, and Gleyber Torres who led the Yankees to another promising day.
Cole delivered six effective, though not flawless, innings, allowing just one run while giving up eight hits, issuing no walks, and striking out seven batters. The Yankees ace mentioned that regardless of the situation, they were aware of what they needed to do to overcome it. He highlighted his ability to limit damage, with seven of the eight hits being singles, which allowed him to continually escape challenging situations.
Following another strong performance and a so-so outing by Minnesota’s Sonny Gray, Cole now boasts the lowest ERA among qualified American League starters. Cole’s ERA has dipped to 2.90, while Gray’s has climbed to 2.98.
In the top of the sixth inning, Cole allowed an RBI single to Miguel Cabrera. However, in the bottom of the inning, Stanton took the stage, ensuring Cole’s 13th win of the season. In a tied game, Stanton crushed a pivotal two-run homer, becoming the fourth-fastest player in MLB history (in terms of games played) to reach the 400-home run milestone. Stanton faced a slider from Jose Cisnero and launched it an estimated 451 feet into left-center field, giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead and securing his place in baseball history.
Boone described the 116.8 mph smash as a ball that had the characteristic of being very G-esque, emphasizing that not many people hit like that. He also referred to it as an absolute missile that cleared the bullpen. Stanton achieved this feat in 1,520 games, a milestone reached faster than all but three players: Mark McGwire (1,412 games), Babe Ruth (1,475 games), and Alex Rodriguez (1,489 games).
LeMahieu set the tone early with a leadoff home run in the first inning, marking his seventh homer in the last 13 games, signaling a resurgence in the second half of the season. The night’s festivities were capped off by Torres, who, with his double in the eighth inning, contributed the last two runs of the game.
Yankees thrilled to see the turning around
Giancarlo Stanton stated that the Yankees weren’t out of contention until they were officially eliminated, in a clear indication of growing confidence for the veterans. He noted that they still had two series with the Blue Jays and a series in Boston, both of which involved wild-card contenders, and emphasized that the wild-card spot was theirs to seize.
Boone mentioned that what had been notable about this run was that everyone was contributing and playing a role. He described his club as going out with the expectation of being dominant and having the mindset of wanting to win decisively.
The experienced players operated quietly in the background, allowing the spotlight to illuminate the 20-year-old prodigy.
Dominguez’s final stat line for the evening included a 1-for-4 performance with his inaugural hit at Yankee Stadium, a double driven into the right-center-field gap during the eighth inning. He also recorded a couple of fielder’s choices, which, while not showcasing his hitting prowess, did reveal his impressive speed.
Throughout the game, all eyes were fixated on him, acknowledging his potential as a future star for the team. Yet, on his home field debut, the current situation took precedence over future aspirations.
Boone expressed that there was a lot of pride in the team, ensuring they consistently presented their best effort. He mentioned that they would evaluate their position at the end of the season to see where they stood.
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